[Devon]

My brand new Liquid Copper FX35 is still relatively clean from the dealership, but I'm thinking of getting a coat or two of Zaino on it for protection right away.

I've tried to wade through the FAQs and tips pages on Zaino's site, but there seems to be a bewildering array of products to use, each for different circumstances. I just want the minimum number of products needed to get a decent, protective finish on the car. (Bear in mind that I don't have a lot of time to devote to waxing my car. If I can find two hours every three months, I'll be lucky!)

What would you guys recommend in terms of specific products from Zaino?

Thanks in advance.


D

 

[mushutofu]

If you want to start it off right wash you car with some Dawn dish soap. This will get off any waxes that the dealer might have put on. They you can clay your car (this part is optional)

Next you want to apply one coat of Z1.
Right afterwards apply a coat of Z2. Let that cure and wipe off. Apply a layer of Z6 (optional) between coats of Z2.
Thats about it.

 

[bradical]

If you want to start it off right wash you car with some Dawn dish soap. This will get off any waxes that the dealer might have put on. They you can clay your car (this part is optional)

Next you want to apply one coat of Z1.
Right afterwards apply a coat of Z2. Let that cure and wipe off. Apply a layer of Z6 (optional) between coats of Z2.
Thats about it.

you can also just get Z2 and ZFX (which you mix together) in place of doing z1 and z2. its faster as you only need to do one coat instead of two. the ZFX is the activator that helps the Z2 dry. in the old system you would put a coat of Z1 on as the activator and then lay z2 on top to. the z1 helped it bond to the surface, but the ZFX does the same thing. so, since you have a brand new car you probably dont need to use Z5 which is for swirl marks.

here are the two paths you can do for the easiest 1 coat application.

(1) Dawn Wash > Z1 apply > Z2 apply > Z1/Z2 wipe off.

(2) Dawn Wash > Z2/ZFX mix apply > Z2 mix wipe off.

now you can do another coat just - Z6 the car first

so to polish i would get as a mimum:

- Z2
- ZFX
- Z6

 

[dude009]

so to polish i would get as a mimum:

- Z2
- ZFX
- Z6

What he said. I use this technique once a month. Takes about 30 minutes to apply, 30 minutes to dry, 15 minutes to wipe off, and 15 minutes to spray/wipe the Z6.

An hour and a half. Done.

 

[Harryh]

so to polish i would get as a mimum:

- Z2
- ZFX
- Z6

What he said. I use this technique once a month. Takes about 30 minutes to apply, 30 minutes to dry, 15 minutes to wipe off, and 15 minutes to spray/wipe the Z6.

An hour and a half. Done.

What they both said. I'd go ahead and order the Z7 car wash concentrate while you're at it. You'll need it going forward 'cause you don't want to use Dawn to wash unless you want to strip off the Zaino. By the way make sure they send along one of their cotton polish applicators...i think it should be free with your order.

Also, if you're curious, on the Zaino home page click on "application" for a very detailed, step-by-step set of tips. I think that's where they extol the value of 100% cotton towels for all washing and wiping.

With the Z2/ZFX mix this isn't going to be much different for you than a usual wash and wax. I actually found the Zaino polish easier to use than paste wax.

And, it really is worth it. I finished my 3rd layer of Zaino on Friday and took my FX ino the dealer for it's first oil change on Saturday. The service manager and the other customers all wanted to know how I got my FX looking so shiny and just plain fabulous.

 

[Devon]

Em... OK, to recap. I need:


Z2
ZFX
Z6
Z7 (wash)
Polish applicator
Cotton towels made in the USA


::head spinning::


D

 

[bradical]

Em... OK, to recap. I need:


Z2
ZFX
Z6
Z7 (wash)
Polish applicator
Cotton towels made in the USA


::head spinning::


D

yes....

it seems like rocket science, but after you do it the first time, its a BREEZE... i think they give you 1 free applicator with the purchase too

 

[dude009]

Em... OK, to recap. I need:


Z2
ZFX
Z6
Z7 (wash)
Polish applicator
Cotton towels made in the USA


::head spinning::


D

Yup. If you bought all you've mentioned, it'll be around $84.... Soooooo your best bang for the buck would be to get the $84 kit. You'll get all you've mentioned, plus two more products (claybar & Z5).


--->> http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=ZKIT-1&Category_Code=Zaino

 

[MustGoFastR]

Well, here's my epic regimine:

1. Wash
2. clay bar (highly recommended)
3. fine polishing compound where needed.
4. rinse and dry
5. Z5/ZFX (helps fill/mask fine swirls) - 2-3 coats w/ step 6 between
6. Z6 & wipe
7. Z2/ZFX (the highest reflectivity stuff) - 2-3 coats w/ step 6 between & after

This is only done once when car is new (a lot of work, but worth it), then maintain as often as you like (once every one to three months) with a coat of Z5 (if needed) and Z2. I dust mine daily with a California Car Duster and go over it with Z6 and microfiber towel weekly (spot clean daily). My FX stays spotless and only ever needs washed if I drive in the rain.

 

[Harryh]

Em... OK, to recap. I need:


Z2
ZFX
Z6
Z7 (wash)
Polish applicator
Cotton towels made in the USA


::head spinning::


D

I know where you're coming from with the "head spinning" thing. I was there when I first researched Zaino. But, trust us, it's only a bit more complicated than using something like Turtle Wax. And that's only because you'll be mixing a few drops of the ZFX into some of the Z2 polish in one of mixing bottles Zaino provides with the ZFX. It's easy and the included instructions are very clear.

Devon, you know you gotta do it ! And once you take a bite of the Zaino apple you're going to want to put on layer upon layer. It's like an addiction.

 

[Devon]

Devon, you know you gotta do it ! And once you take a bite of the Zaino apple you're going to want to put on layer upon layer. It's like an addiction.

LOL!

I guess I'm in trouble, then. I just ordered the above-listed products.

Question... After I get the first coats on as detailed above, can a third coat go on right away? Or do you usually wait for another weekend for that?

Also, I'm a little confused about what the Z6 is for and how you use it.

I'll probably be sorry I asked, but does anyone here take their car into a car wash, ever? The soft-cloth kind? I gotta admit, I haven't been one for hand-washing my vehicle for quite a few years now. I got way too busy with homeowning and running my business, and it's just too easy to pop into the car wash down the street.

I'll probably get an earful now! :shock:


D

 

[Harryh]

LOL!

I guess I'm in trouble, then. I just ordered the above-listed products.

Question... After I get the first coats on as detailed above, can a third coat go on right away? Or do you usually wait for another weekend for that?

Also, I'm a little confused about what the Z6 is for and how you use it.

I'll probably be sorry I asked, but does anyone here take their car into a car wash, ever? The soft-cloth kind? I gotta admit, I haven't been one for hand-washing my vehicle for quite a few years now. I got way too busy with homeowning and running my business, and it's just too easy to pop into the car wash down the street.

I'll probably get an earful now! :shock:


D

You can put a max of 3 layers of ZFX activated Z2 polish on in 24 hours. Or you can do like I did (because I started so late in the day) and put one on last Sunday, another on Tuesday after work and the third on Friday after work. But my FX is my second car and I was able to keep it garaged and undriven for that week so it didn't pick up any road dirt. The Zaino system is flexible though and I bet you could build up your coats over a few weeks. Just apply a layer of polish after every wash for the first month or two.

The Z6 comes in a spray bottle and basically you mist it on and wipe off immediately...not supposed to let it dry on your FX. It's a detailing cleaner and gloss enhancer but I'm not sure why it's recommended to do this in between polish coats being applied one after the other. Love to hear what folks say about that. I found Z6 helpful because my FX sat a couple of days in between coats and the Z6 cleaned off all of the dust.

I too would be interested in what people have to say about the soft cloth car washes.

 

[dude009]

Soft cloth is a marketing ploy. It should be called "old cloth with dirt and rocks from other people's cars in each piece of cloth" wash. You basically put thousands of tiny swirls marks in your clearcoat, dulling the finish over time. Not to mention, you risk rim-rub and paint scratches.

Personally, I only use 100% american made cotton and microfiber on my paint. :razz:

 

[MustGoFastR]

Ditto that. Washing is the quickest, easiest step of the entire process. If you don't have the time and conviction to spend on this, then Zaino isn't the product for you. It has great results but is pretty labor intensive compared to some other products. I don't think you'd want to risk the finish you'd spend so much time on by cutting coners in the washing dept.

The Z6 is simply a quick detail spray, as mentioned above. It's nice to use between coats of Zaino because it cleans off any residue you may have missed during removal. They claim it also helps promote bonding between successive Zaino coats.

Seriously, just spend the time at the beginning and maintain it periodically afterward. Get yourself a California Car duster as well; that and a quick spritz and wipe with Z6 can seriously reduce your washing frequency as long as the weather is dry.

 

[FXLENT]

Use Zymol. It comes in "one" bottle. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to apply correctly and it doesn't take a vacation to wax your car. Great shine.

 

[Devon]

Seriously, just spend the time at the beginning and maintain it periodically afterward. Get yourself a California Car duster as well; that and a quick spritz and wipe with Z6 can seriously reduce your washing frequency as long as the weather is dry.

I'm all for quick and easy. In the summertime, dusting the car off between washes shouldn't be an issue. But here in Minnesota, I can't see myself handwashing the car in subzero weather in February.

Any of you Zaino fans live in the harsher climates? What do you do when it's too cold for handwashes?


D

 

[bradical]

if you wash your car with the Zaino car wash, this stuff prolongs the life of a single coat of Z2 big time. it has polish in it and helps keep your zaino finish sealed.

i thought they were full of it until i washed with an over the counter car wash solution a few times and then went back to the zaino wash. there is a HUGE difference in the shine and especially the way the water dries on the car. any water spots that do occur wipe off MUCH easier when drying with this stuff.

its just a shame that my FX looks like a war zone already with the rock chips in the front, the 2 big scratches in the drivers door and the other scratches in the passenger door where someone got out of their car and just dragged their fat ass across the paint

 

[araczynski]

its just a shame that my FX looks like a war zone already with the rock chips in the front, the 2 big scratches in the drivers door and the other scratches in the passenger door where someone got out of their car and just dragged their fat ass across the paint

never park close to the stores

A) walking is good excercise
B) all the lards park up close cuz god forbid they have to walk, and they tend to swing open their car doors like they live in a barn, because they need the extra clearance after they build up enough momentum to get themselves up out of the seat, while still managing of course to hit the door a second time on their way out, which of course hits the car next to it, a second time.
C) more or less like B, but for old people parking as close as possible to the stores, for reasons of course which i would never blame them for, they have bigger concerns typically then whether there's a nice car next to theirs.

I always try to find 2 other higher quality/condition cars to park next to or ideally in between

We do all of our food shopping at a local Wal-Mart, which tends to run the gamut in terms of 'quality' of individuals, luckily the parking lots is absolutely gigantic (due to them also having a sam's club right next door) and there's always plenty of spots in the back...

a bit more on topic:

i've used zaino on my last car, and will definitely say its a great product, i'll be giving my fx the treatment soon after installing a clear bra.

 

[bradical]

the sad part is that i usually park in places further out, but this was at a client site where there were only about 20 parking places for non-employees (i.e.. visitor parking). problem with visitor parking is that cars are in and out all day and you get some real wing dings parking sideways and stuff.

 

[araczynski]

i understand, i wasn't implying anything, just generalizing. there's always that moment when you know you're putting your car's finish at risk, can't do anything about those, other then drive around again and/or park further away still hehehe